In his first state HOSA office, he wants to lead members of the CareerTech student organization to improve not just Oklahoma’s health care, but also that of the nation and the world.

HOSA is the CareerTech student organization for future health professionals. Its mission is to enhance the delivery of compassionate, high quality health care by providing opportunities for knowledge, skill and leadership development of all health science education students.

Most of Oklahoma’s chapters are at technology centers, although a few are in high schools, said Debbie Bennett, HOSA adviser at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. Students in most technology center programs finish with a credential or license, she said, while the high school programs are more exploratory.

Moffatt, a Duncan High School senior, is studying biomedical science at Red River Technology Center in Duncan. He entered the Biomedical Science Academy at RRTC as a junior and joined HOSA at the same time.

“I grew to love HOSA,” he said. “I always considered myself a leader. HOSA allows me to be a leader in my future career field. It’s a leadership organization for people interested in health care.”

Moffatt was elected and installed as president at Oklahoma HOSA’s recent Fall Leadership Conference in Norman. Also elected were Sambrina Kingery, Indian Capital Technology Center, vice president, and state officers Jawnna Brooks and Colby Holman, ICTC; Ashley Long and Gina Mouse, Gordon Cooper Technology Center; Megan Mueggenborg and James MacNaughton, Francis Tuttle Technology Center; and John Mohr and Stephanie Enciso, Tulsa Technology Center.

Aamr Hasanjee, former Francis Tuttle Tech student and now a freshman at the University of Central Oklahoma, is also National HOSA Region I vice president – the latest in a string of national officers from Oklahoma, Bennett said.

The more than 1,100 students and advisers at the Oklahoma HOSA Fall Leadership Conference also attended one of three break-out sessions. The sessions offered leadership training for secondary students, postsecondary students and advisers, Bennett said.

Moffatt wants to continue that leadership throughout Oklahoma HOSA.

“I really want to get the state officer team involved in community service and professional development. I think it’s important as a state officer team,” he said, adding that he also hopes to lead the team in meeting and talking with HOSA members throughout Oklahoma.

“I’d really like to see us all come together to not only better our state, but also better our nation in the quality of future health professionals,” he said. “If we can change the face of health care as a state and do better as a state, we can improve other people in the nation and the world.”

His personal ambition fits his dreams for HOSA. Moffatt hopes to become a reconstructive surgeon and do medical missions in developing nations where people don’t have access to procedures that are common in the United States.

First, though, he plans to attend college in Oklahoma so he can stay close to other Oklahoma HOSA officers and members. And while he may not know where he’ll go after that, he acknowledges that there are plenty of opportunities for health care professionals in Oklahoma.

“I’m from a small town with a really good hospital, but no matter how small or how big, there are always opportunities in Oklahoma,” he said. “You don’t have to move away.”

HOSA is one of seven CareerTech student organizations affiliated with CareerTech programs. The others are Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, family and consumer sciences education; Business Professionals of America, business and information technology education; FFA, agricultural education; DECA, marketing education; Technology Student Association, science, technology, engineering and mathematics; and SkillsUSA, trade and industrial education.

The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education provides leadership and resources and assures standards of excellence for a comprehensive statewide system of career and technology education. The system offers programs and services in 29 technology center districts operating on 59 campuses, 393 comprehensive school districts and 13 Skills Centers campuses that include three juvenile facilities.

The agency is governed by the State Board of Career and Technology Education and works closely with the State Department of Education and the State Regents for Higher Education to provide a seamless educational system for all Oklahomans.